Antique Coins and Early Islamic Coins

- 460 Sicily perverted by Greek Gods​2016 SOLD for CHF 600K before fees

The city of Naxos near Catania on the east coast of Sicily was the earliest Greek colony in Sicily, anticipating Syracuse, and got its name from the Cycladic island with which it should not be confused. It was also one of the first Western cities to develop a coinage carved on both sides.

Naxos and Catania are emptied of their inhabitants about 2490 years ago by the tyrants of Syracuse. The political dominance is reverted following some rebellions, and freedom is retrieved 2476 years ago, 460 years before the origin of our calendar.

A tetradrachm was issued in Naxos in Sicily at that time, certainly for celebrating the end of the exile. Its bold rendering of Greek gods is a masterpiece of ancient coinage without being an artistic renewal. It is assumed that the same artist had previously executed a tetradrachm for Aetna (Aitna) which was the name of Catania during the Syracusan occupation.

On one side the portrait of Dionysus in full surface is remarkably well balanced for its times with a thick beard and a smile that may be vicious. He wears a crown of ivy leaves. On the other side the invitation to debauchery is worse ! Silenus squats in full nude,vigorously muscular and ithyphallic. The bust unbalanced by intoxication, he inspects the cup that contains his beverage.

A coin remaining in extremely fine condition was sold for £ 320K before fees by Morton and Eden on April 23, 2012. It is estimated CHF 500K for sale by Numismatica Ars Classica in Zurich on October 6, lot 1019 in the catalog shared by the bidding platform Sixbid.

-409 Just before the Fall of Agrigento2012 SOLD 2.3 MCHF before fees

Akragas, now Agrigento, on the south coast of Sicily, was one of the most prosperous cities of the Greek world, and one of the first to issue silver coins.

About 2423 years ago (409BC in our calendar), this coinage reached its artistic zenith with a beautiful silver decadrachm. The detail of the carving is superb, so much that experts are still wondering if this coin was actually intended to circulate. However, we must also consider that even at this distant time the officials were certainly wary of fakes.

We see on one side a quadriga in full motion. More original, the other side shows a remarkably realistic flying eagle carrying a rabbit.

An almost perfect example of this decadrachm was sold $ 570K by Sotheby's on June 19, 1990, an exceptional price for that time. It comes back at auction on October 17 by Numismatica Ars Classica inZurich, with an estimate of CHF 1.75 M. The image of the quadriga side is shared by Artdaily. Here is the link to the catalog on the specialized online platform Sixbid.

This model is extremely rare for a good reason: as early as 406BC, Akragas was destroyed by the Carthaginians. I told very recently in this group that this terrible defeat, coupled with the installation of anarchy in Athens in 404BC, would pave the way for the highly effective tyranny of Dionysius in Syracuse.

POST SALE COMMENT

The pieces which are exceptional in their category have no price limit! This coin was sold CHF 2.3 million before fees.

The Satyr of the Black Sea2012 SOLD 3.8 M$ including premium

In seeking to extend their influence in West Asia, the ancient Greeks established colonies. The city of Pantikapaion occupied a very strategic position, on the west coast of the strait between Black Sea and Azov Sea.

2350 to 2300 years ago, this city-state was powerful. An independent dynasty coming from Thrace ruled it for nearly a century, and its gold coins are among the masterpieces of ancient coinage.

The stater with satyr has a very sharp carving. On one side this mythical character is facing, shaggy, bearded, with the nose of a drunkard and the ears of a horse. It is a beautiful and powerful ancient portrait. On the other side, a winged griffin is standing to left but turns his head toward us. A Greek letter is certainly the initial of the name of the city.

A very nice specimen of this coin is for sale on January 4 in New York by Baldwin's. It weighs 9.12 g, and its nearly circular cutout is rather well centered. Estimated $ 650K, it is the top lot in a remarkable collection of antique coins.

Pantikapaion began to decline at the time of Alexander the Great, and its last great historical event, much later, was the suicide of Mithridates.

POST SALE COMMENT

There was no doubt on the quality of this coin. It was announced for several months as the star lot of the exceptional Prospero collection. Its price, $ 3.25 million before fees, 3.8 million after calculating the buyer's premium of 17%, ranks it among the masterpieces of antique art.

- 43 Brutus Imperator​2015 SOLD for CHF 900K before fees

Caesar's murder was committed in the Ides of March of a year that Livy will soon calculate as 709 Ab Urbe Condita. The group of conspirators was led by Brutus and Cassius, and the first blow is traditionally attributed to Casca Longus.

This Casca Longus seems to have been a very close associate to Brutus. He belongs to the gens Servilius. Brutus had been adopted in his youth by an uncle who was also a Servilius.

Brutus and Cassius were first granted amnesty by the Senate before accepting positions of proconsuls that temporarily separated them. Both issued coins.

On October 8 in Zurich, Numismatica Ars Classica sells an aureus of Brutus, estimated CHF 500K, lot 23 on the bidding platform Sixbid, also shown in the post shared by Coin World. A better centered example was sold for CHF 850K before fees by the same auction house on November 18, 2013.

One side shows the head of Brutus from profile. The emaciated face carved in high relief is probably the only remaining realistic portrayal of Brutus in that period. This side is inscribed BRUTUS IMP. The coin has certainly been issued in 710AUC after a campaign by Brutus in Thrace which earned him the title of imperator.

When he was assassinated, Caesar had just appointed himself as dictator, arousing the horror among the republicans. His likeness on an aureus was felt as a provocation. The portrait of Brutus on a later aureus does not mean a betrayal of the republic but rather a tradition of Greece where he still was the Roman proconsul.

The other side shows military symbols aside with the name of Casca Longus without an effigy. This does not mean that Brutus shared any supreme power with his accomplice but rather that Casca Longus was his moneyer, meaning the responsible for his coinage (and not the engraver). The name of Brutus himself had appeared as the moneyer on a Republican coin issued ten years earlier.

The Brutus aureus thus predates the silver denarius glorifying the Ides of March by the inscription EID MAR, an example of which was sold for $ 546K including premium by Heritage on 7 September 2011. This ultimate denarius of Caesar's traitor is politically ambiguous, with an idealized portrait.

-27 Augustus and the Heifer2014 SOLD for £ 480K including premium

Julius Caesar was murdered 709 years after the founding of Rome, according to calculations made ​​later by Livy. All the ambitious leaders rush into the conquest of power. Among them, the youngest is Caius Octavius​​ whose adoption by Caesar had been ratified by the Senate. He shows his political will by changing his name to Caius Julius Caesar Octavianus.

Octavian is the winner, after 13 years of civil war. He understood that, in order to maintain his dominance, he must be respected as a demi-god or even more. Before the decisive battle of Actium, he promised to open a temple. His choice was to honor the most beautiful of the gods, Apollo.

Three years after Actium, Octavian inaugurates the temple of Apollo Palatinus on a place marked by lightning. This political act is extremely important because it includes the transfer of the Sibylline Books from the Capitoline temple of Jupiter. Military winner, Octavian also perfectly knew how to use the traditional Roman superstitions.

In the following year, 726 from the founding of Rome, he becomes Augustus Caesar, which means the sacred emperor entitled to make oracles and the absolute master of political power.

In the sale of 22 and 23 September in London, Dix Noonan Webb offers an aureus of Augustus Caesar, whose figures tend to show that it was made in the very first years of the Roman Empire.

It is inscribed 'Caesar' on one side with the portrait of the leader that lost the realistic hardness of the Republican era to provide an idealization inspired by Apollo. His beauty remains plausible for a man who was not yet 40 years old.

It is inscribed 'Augustus' on the reverse side with a heifer lowering the spine, which is not a symbol of virginity but of sacrifice. This image is directly inspired by four statues from the old Greek sculptor Myron of Eleutherae that were adorning the altar of Apollo Palatinus. Both sides thus show a tight link between the two imperial arts, sculpture and coinage.

Several variants of this aureus exist, with laureate or bare head, head to the left or to the right, beast going left or right. This series of variants that were probably struck together is certainly designed for some interpretation of auspices. Three combinations have never been seen. The coin for sale is unique, with the laureate head to the right and the heifer to the left.

In very fine condition, it is estimated in excess of £ 300K. Both sides are shown in the post shared by Numismatic News.

66 The Shekels of Year One2012 SOLD 1.1 M$ including premium

The events started quickly, 3826 years after the creation of the world according to the Jewish calendar, corresponding to the year 66 (retroactively) of our current calendar.

For about one hundred and thirty years, the Romans occupied Judea. By negligence, or more likely by provocation, the Greeks made some sacrifices of animals in front of the synagogues. The Romans let them do it, exacerbating the tensions between communities.

The Jewish revolt was massive. The Zealots seized the Temple of Jerusalem, with a revolutionary enthusiasm similar to the storming of the Bastille 1723 years later. The Jews believed having won their independence again, and used the silver reserves of the Temple to create a mint.

Dated Year 1 of Israel, two coins are for sale on March 8by Heritagein New York. They are illustrated in chalices and pomegranates, with inscriptions in ancient Hebrew. The bigger, worth 1 shekel, is measuring 24 mm in diameter. The other, a quarter of a shekel, 16 mm.

These coins are of the utmost rarity. For each of the two, only one other example is known. They are poorly centered, as many antique coins, which reflects here an undeniable rush mixed with improvisation. They were possibly a first prototype pattern that was never circulated.

The revolution did not last long. Aware of the risk, Nero sent one of his ablest generals, the future emperor Vespasian. The war lasted four years and was atrocious.

The coin of 1 shekel is estimated $ 950K. Here is the link to the catalog. The quarter shekel is estimated $ 850K. It is indeed also exceptional for its monetary value: for reasons of productivity, very few coins of a quarter of a shekel will be produced throughout the duration of the revolution. Here is the link to the catalog.

POST SALE COMMENT

The results are in line with the estimates : $ 1.1M including premium for the shekel, 900 K including premium for the quarter shekel.

70 Portrait of Titus as a Young Winner2012 SOLD 960 K$ including premium

An aureus of a highly rare model is for sale on March 9by Heritage in New York. Such coins with realistic profiles show only the imperial personalities: the emperors, their wives, their designated heirs and of course the usurpers.

The inscriptions identify this laureate headed man and, even better, show his place in history: he is Titus, the son and future successor of Vespasian, at the time of the fall of Jerusalem in 70 of our current calendar (retroactively).

His father was then Emperor since a short time, having put an end to the extreme anarchy that followed Nero's death. Vespasian ever has a surly attitude in his portraits. Titus resembles him in such an expression.

The young man is already imperator, a military qualification assessing that he is in progress of winning the Jewish war, which had been started by his father. He is also caesar, as he now claims to the imperial succession. An inscription on the back is announcing that Judaea is conquered (however, the resistance will last another three years).

The auction house had reported the extreme rarity of this beautiful coin. Sold $ 960K including premium, it has far exceeded its estimate.

194 The African Caesar​2016 SOLD for CHF 600K before fees

The disastrous reign of Commodus terminates the dynasty of the Antonines that had maintained the Pax Romana for nearly half a century. The Empire is coveted and the contenders are numerous. Septimius Severus emerges victorious after a short period of intense civil wars.

Clodius Albinus, head of the legions in Britannia (England), had been one of the pretenders before making alliance with Severus. When he ascended the throne in April 194 of our calendar, Severus chose Albinus as his Caesar with a right of succession.

At that time the Roman coins display superb portraits, highly detailed and artistic. Severus has realized an aureus at the effigy of Albinus, a beautiful general in his forties with a high forehead, curly hair and full beard.

The reverse of this aureus shows a standing god wearing a very slight pallium and carrying a trident and a caduceus. He is identified by the inscription Saeculo Frugifero which marks the auspices of a return to prosperity. The name is translated from the Greek god Aion Karkophoros who is the patron of Hadrumetum, the hometown of Albinus in present-day Tunisia.

This aureus was as ephemeral as the imperial career of Albinus. After a few months, Severus feels increasingly strong and changes his mind, desiring now to establish a hereditary dynasty. He abruptly evicts his former Caesar before he could disturb his ambitions. After two years of resistance, Albinus is defeated and commits suicide.

The aureus of Albinus is known in only three units. One of them is superbly struck, uncirculated, nearly fleur de coin. It is estimated CHF 350K for sale in Zürich on May 23 by NAC (Numismatica Ars Classica) in association with Stack's Bowers. The online bidding is available on Sixbid, lot 33.

723 The Gold of the Commander of the Faithful2011 SOLD 3.72 M£ including premium

One hundred years after the Hegira, the Muslim world is led by the Caliph of the Umayyad dynasty, whose capital is in Damascus. The sale in Londonon April 4 of two superb gold dinars from that time is an exceptional event in its category. The auction is organized by Morton and Eden in the premises of Sotheby's.

These coins are illustrated on both sides by an Arabic text, indicating in particular that they come from the mine of the Commander of the Faithful. They are dated 92 and 105 AH (711 and 723 of our calendar).

The latest coin certifies that it was made from a mine in Hejaz. Such a mine had been purchased a few years previously by one of the first Caliphs. The absence of coins of this origin between 92 and 105 could correlate such issues with pilgrimages to Mecca led by the Caliph himself.

Both are in very fine condition. They are estimated respectively at £ 250K and 300K.

POST SALE COMMENT

I had announced an event exceptional in its category. It was true.

The most prestigious of the two coins, dated 105AH (723AD), was sold £ 3.1 million before fees, 3.72 million including premium.

723 A Dinar from Arabia2012 SOLD 793 K£ including premium

Unsold on April 25 with a very high estimate, a gold dinar comes back into the same auction house. As usual, I adapt my previous text to the new event:

Last year, an auction sale that I had discussed in this group propelled an Arab gold dinar to the rank of most prestigious coin of Islam.

Dated 105AH (translated into 723AD), in excellent condition, it was part of the first issue of coinage for which the origin of the gold was located in Hijaz, in a mine that was owned by the Umayyad caliphs. It reached £ 3.72 million including premium at Morton and Eden in London on April 4, 2011.

According to the Islamic fashion of the time for some decades, it includes only text and no image. 105AH is the final year of the short reign of Yazid bin Abd al-Malik, one of the most iconoclastic of the caliphs. Known for his willingness to destroy the Christian images, he obviously distrusted also any other picture that might disturb the faith of believers. A few years later, the Byzantines will be subject to the same crisis.

Returning to London.On December 6, Baldwin's sells a very similar piece, dated from the same year and with the same weight, 4.27 grams. One side, when comparing the photos, looks identical. On the other side, there are three lines instead of five in the central text.

It is announced as uncirculated, and is estimated £ 800K. This expected price is still beyond the published estimate of the other coin before the spiral bidding of last year (£ 300K).

POST SALE COMMENT

The Umayyad dinar was sold for its fair price: £ 640K before fees, 793K including premium.